Chapter Six
Jess
Thursday 9 January
Jess pressed play on her iPod and the instrumental music for the final class of the day filtered out into the room.
‘Ready, ladies?’
A chorus of nods welcomed her and she smiled and said, ‘Then let’s begin.’
A few minutes later, the women, who were a mixed bag of ages, anything from mid-twenties to mid-sixties, were busy doing the plough pose when the door opened again and a rather dishevelled guy strode in, murmuring a ‘Sorry I’m late’ and shooting Jess an apologetic glance. She was just about to ask him if he had the right class when she clocked the yoga mat attached to a clip on his back.
Jess gave him an encouraging smile and he unrolled his mat near the back of the class, but not before several of the women’s heads had turned in his direction. Gawked would be more accurate. She supposed he was pretty good-looking, with deep mocha eyes, and he was reasonably tall, around five eleven, and there was the fact he was the only male in the class. Jess grinned to herself. Those coming to class to meet a mate had slim pickings, so they’d probably view him as fresh meat. Poor bloke.
She guided them through the bridge, the locust and the tree before switching to autopilot, finally finishing with the mountain pose.
Throughout the class, she’d had to cover her smirk more than once as the women none too discreetly made every excuse to turn in the cute guy’s direction. She’d never seen so many dropped water bottles in her life. Her class had become clumsy all of a sudden.
As she tidied up afterwards, saying goodbye to each person as they passed her, a woman stopped to ask her about the times of her Pilates classes. She was deep in conversation with her when she became aware of someone hovering on the edge of her peripheral vision. Turning slightly, she saw it was the cute guy. She gave him a brief smile, which he returned.
‘Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt, but I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the class. I’ve never done yoga before.’
The woman beside Jess stared at him, and Jess didn’t think it was because he’d never done yoga before.
‘Excellent. Will we see you back next week then?’ Jess asked.
‘You can count on it. Oh, I’m Nathan, by the way.’ He slapped his head as if annoyed at himself for failing to introduce himself earlier.
Jess smiled. ‘Jess.’ She was about to thank him for coming when the woman she’d been speaking to interrupted. ‘Hi, Nathan. I’m Maureen. A few of us are going for a drink. Do you fancy it?’
Jess tried but failed to hide a smile. She didn’t hear what Nathan said as Maureen shepherded him out of the class. A shame. A lamb to the slaughter. He’d never survive.
An hour and a half later, and after a relatively uneventful train journey, Jess approached Cirque, amazed at how few people were around. Did she have the right place? There were no tables outside, but then it was January. They’d freeze to death if they sat outside, even those hardier types and smokers.
The bell dinged gently as she entered and a lilting voice called, ‘Be with you in a minute.’ She glanced around but saw no one. Maybe they’d missed the rush. It was twenty past seven, she supposed. Most people would be safely ensconced in their living rooms under a blanket to ward off the chill, or eating dinner.
She guessed she could sit anywhere since it wasn’t exactly busy. She hoped that wasn’t testament to the quality of the café’s wares. As she glanced round, she took in the mismatched cups and saucers set out on the tables, some with floral patterns, others with postbox-red love hearts, and yet others with various colours of polka dots adorning them. Porcelain teapots in assorted bright colours stood on each table, with cast-iron tea kettles the only items at the other end of the colour spectrum.
A head popped up from behind the counter, making Jess jump.
‘Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. I’ve been reorganising,’ the middle-aged woman with the bright fuchsia plaits said. ‘Have you booked?’
Jess didn’t like to point out it hardly seemed necessary, so she settled for, ‘I’m not sure. It was my friend who chose to meet here.’
The woman’s brow furrowed. Surely she didn’t think Jess was questioning her not being the one to choose her locale. Oh, maybe she thought she had something against it. Hurriedly, she explained, ‘I’m from Glasgow. I don’t know Edinburgh very well.’
Suitably mollified, the woman introduced herself. ‘I’m Marion. Sit wherever you like. Would you like something now or would you prefer to wait for your friend?’
Still trying to accustom herself to Marion’s rather eclectic look– tattoo sleeve, pink dungarees and a periwinkle blue beanie– Jess mumbled that perhaps she could have a peppermint tea whilst she waited.
She chose one of the tables with the tea kettle as its unusual shape intrigued her. She’d just parked her bottom on the edge of one of the mismatched accent chairs when the doorbell dinged again.
Anouska.
‘Hi, Jess. Great to see you,’ she breathed as she hugged Jess briefly before setting her briefcase down on the seat opposite Jess and taking off her coat.
‘Wow! You look like you’ve stepped out of a tailor’s in Savile Row.’
Anouska grinned. ‘Workwear. A necessary evil.’ She popped her handbag on the table. Gucci, Jess noted.
‘I think I’m doing well if I buy something from Next,’ said Jess.
‘Ha ha. There’s nothing wrong with Next. I get my pyjamas from there sometimes.’
Somehow Jess couldn’t imagine this high-flying businesswoman, the epitome of sophistication, wearing the navy print daisy pyjamas Mark had bought her for Christmas.
The doorbell dinged again and Ellie swept in, bringing a blast of ice-cold air with her. ‘So sorry I’m late. Can’t believe I’m the one who lives in Edinburgh, yet I’m last here.’ She hugged them both as they stood up to greet her. She then waved to Marion. ‘Hi, hon, how are you?’ To Marion’s response that she was fine, Ellie added, ‘Can I have a luxury hot chocolate when you have a sec?’
‘Sure. I might be a bit, mind you. I’m rushed off my feet in here.’
The three women smiled at Marion’s sense of humour, and Anouska added her order before Marion took off again.
Ellie shrugged off her coat then put her long, curly hair up in a scrunchie and collapsed into a seat. ‘That’s better. What a day.’
‘Busy at work?’ Jess asked.
‘Yeah. That’s what I get for taking the day off yesterday.’
‘Oh? Did you do something nice?’ Anouska asked.
Ellie beamed. ‘Actually, yes, I went skiing.’
‘Well, you definitely got the weather for it,’ Anouska said.
‘I did. It was fabulous.’ Ellie broke off as Marion placed their drinks in front of them.
‘I’ve never been skiing. I’ve always fancied trying it,’ Jess said thoughtfully.
‘You should come with me sometime.’ Ellie wiped whipped cream from her top lip and sat the mug down. ‘Especially midweek. It’s fabulous as there’s hardly anyone else around.’
‘But you’d be whizzing down all those black runs and red runs. I’d need to go on the baby slopes,’ Jess said glumly.
‘I could slum it the once, you know.’ Ellie grinned. ‘Anyway, it was brilliant. Gave me time to clear my head.’
‘Oh?’ Anouska raised an eyebrow.
‘I had a lot of thinking to do.’ Ellie sidestepped the question and cupped her hands around her mug. ‘So, Jess, tell me, when did you decide for certain you wanted to get married?’
Jess tapped a finger against her lips then said, ‘Years ago, I don’t remember exactly when, but it was only on New Year’s Day that it seemed more urgent, and that I realised it had to happen this year.’
Ellie’s eyes bulged. ‘Wow, you don’t do things by halves, do you?’
‘Ha, ha! No, not really. Once I’ve made up my mind, I tend to just get on with it.’
‘But how did you know it was the right time?’ Ellie pressed. Jess wondered for a second if she was asking about her or for herself.
‘Well, I’m twenty-four, we’ve been living together for two years, and we’ve known each other since we were seven.’ She took a sip of her water. ‘I want kids, loads of kids, always have. I’m from a big family myself. Five of us.’
At their expressions, she smiled. ‘I know, a handful, so Mum says. Anyway, I digress. Let’s face it, I’m never going to be in any better physical shape than I am now, and I’m not particularly good with pain, so I figure the sooner I can have kids, the better. Since I look after myself and my body, it should be easy, right?’
Anouska frowned. ‘I’m not sure it’s quite as simple as that, but certainly being in good health physically, and fit, would go in your favour.’
‘And I don’t want to be an older mum. Not that there’s anything wrong with that,’ she hastened to add, ‘but I don’t want to be the mum who can’t play sport with their kids or has no energy because they’re in their forties and not physically in their prime.’
Ellie bit her lip. ‘But surely you don’t only want to get married because you want kids whilst you’re still young.’
Jess shook her head. ‘No, of course not. I love Mark to bits, always have, always will. I just believe that if it’s right, it’s right. Why wait? And it is right with me and Mark. I can’t imagine myself ever with anyone but Mark, or him with anyone but me. In fact, the thought of him with someone else makes me feel ill.’
Both women were nodding at her, so she continued. ‘Mark gets me. He’s never been possessive, nor I with him. We don’t need to be. Neither of us is jealous, nor gives the other any reason to be. He doesn’t mind if I have friends who’re male, and likewise I don’t mind if he has female friends.’
Ellie’s eyebrows lifted at that.
‘I don’t. Honestly. What we have is special. I’ve always known we’d end up together. Call me crazy, but I think I knew when I was seven.’
‘That’s forward planning.’ Ellie laughed. ‘I can barely plan my next meal.’
They all laughed.
‘Well, when you’re sure, you’re sure,’ Jess finished.
‘What’s the problem then?’ Anouska stared earnestly at Jess.
‘He hasn’t asked. It’s as if we’re already married. You know, living together, it’s too easy to slump into a routine of not making an effort.’ A thought occurred to her. ‘Do you live with your boyfriend, Anouska?’
Anouska nodded. ‘Yes, in a flat his auntie left him.’
At Jess’ scrunched-up face, she laughed. ‘Bone of contention. So why was New Year your catalyst? Was it simply the romance of it being New Year, a New Year’s resolution, or something else?’
Jess thought for a second then said, ‘No, if I’m honest it’s because I really hoped he’d propose at the bells– and then he didn’t.’
‘Ouch.’ Ellie shot her a sympathetic look.
‘Exactly.’ Jess let the word hang there for a second then waved her hand dismissively. ‘Anyway, enough about me. Tell me about you and your other halves.’
‘I’ll go first.’ Anouska leant forward slightly. ‘Zach and I have been together for three years. We met at a wine-tasting event here in Edinburgh, funnily enough, even though we’re both from Aberdeen. So you can probably guess we both love wine, and we’re both foodies, although I like eating food and he likes cooking it as well as eating it.’
Ellie and Jess laughed before Anouska continued. ‘I run my own human resources business. I’m thirty-four, he’s thirty-two. I love him to bits, but marriage hasn’t really been on the table for us.’
Jess raised an invisible eyebrow at this. That wasn’t the same as saying she didn’t want to get married; on the contrary, it sounded like Zach didn’t.
At their silence, Anouska clearly felt she needed to fill it. ‘I’m constantly travelling for work, all over the world, and Zach and his business partner, Todd, are always so busy with their bistro, we’re just grateful to have some time with each other when we can.’
‘How long have you lived together?’ Ellie asked.
Anouska thought for a second. ‘Just under two years, I think. Your turn, Ellie.’
Jess couldn’t help but think Anouska wanted the spotlight turned away from her.
Ellie exhaled. ‘Like I told you on the hen weekend, Scott and I have separate houses, and we’ve been together six years. He’s a molecular biologist, doing his PhD at Edinburgh Uni. We’re very different, although he also likes extreme sports, so we bond over that.’ She drew breath as Jess and Anouska stared at her.
‘Wow, extreme sports. That’s so brave,’ Jess said eventually.
‘Rather you than me,’ Anouska said. ‘I prefer après-ski.’
They all laughed.
Anouska turned to Jess. ‘So, have you thought any more about your proposal?’
Jess sighed. It was all she was thinking about. ‘Yes, but now I’ve discounted all those I’ve considered.’
‘Isn’t there anywhere on your wish list that you haven’t visited yet?’ Ellie put in.
‘We were supposed to go to Prague for New Year, but then Mum and Dad bought us a mini-break in Edinburgh, so we ditched that idea.’
Anouska frowned. ‘So why not go there then?’
Jess twiddled the ends of the scarf she still wore around her neck, hoping to ward off the café’s chill. ‘I don’t know if it’s special enough. Prague’s always associated with stag parties. I wanted a more romantic location.’
‘I can understand that,’ said Anouska.
‘And the hotel I really wanted to go to, and that I know Mark has always wanted to stay in in Prague, was full. It’s booked out for months.’ When the other two looked at her, she confirmed, ‘I did check.’
Ellie raised her hot chocolate to her mouth and said, ‘It sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Time’s marching on.’ She replaced her mug on the table, eyes gleaming as an idea struck her. ‘Tell you what, why don’t you make a list of places and if you haven’t decided by next week, we can meet here again next Thursday.’ She glanced at Anouska. ‘You can make it next Thursday, can’t you?’
Anouska appeared to think for a moment then said, ‘Yes, I’m not going to S?o Paulo until the day after.’
‘And you, Jess?’
‘I’m sure I can.’
‘That’s settled then. You make your list and we’ll dissect it next week.’ Ellie sat back, looking pleased with herself.
As Ellie’s words sank in, Jess couldn’t help feeling energised. She was really doing this.